Delhi woke up gasping under a thick blanket of smog on Tuesday morning, October 21, 2025, as the Air Quality Index (AQI) hit a staggering 347 at 7 am, firmly in the 'very poor' category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The culprit? A night of relentless Diwali fireworks, despite the Supreme Court’s push for eco-friendly "green crackers." Last year’s post-Diwali AQI was slightly worse at 359, but this year’s haze still paints a grim picture, with visuals from Dilli Haat, INA showing drivers navigating through smog with headlights on.

The CPCB’s 24-hour average AQI, reported at 4 pm on Monday, stood at 345, with 38 of 39 monitoring stations confirming 'very poor' air quality. Anand Vihar recorded PM 2.5 at 358 and PM 10 at 340, while Wazirpur tipped into the 'severe' zone with an AQI of 408, driven by fine particulate matter (PM 2.5). Prolonged exposure to such air can trigger respiratory illnesses, warns the CPCB, posing a serious health risk to Delhi’s millions.

The Supreme Court, aiming to balance public health with festive traditions, permitted green crackers—developed by CSIR-NEERI to cut pollution by 30% through reduced barium and aluminum content—on October 20 and 21. The court restricted their use to specific hours (6:00 AM to 7:00 AM and 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM), tasking district authorities and police with enforcement. However, the smog suggests compliance was spotty, as conventional firecrackers, often smuggled, likely worsened the haze. “A blanket ban doesn’t work; people smuggle more harmful crackers,” noted Chief Justice BR Gavai on October 15.

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The AQI, a tool to gauge air pollution, tracks eight key pollutants: PM 10, PM 2.5, ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead, and ammonia. Per CPCB standards, an AQI of 301–400 is 'very poor,' while 401–500 is 'severe,' posing escalating health risks. At RK Puram, the AQI hit 368, underscoring the crisis as smog shrouded visibility across the capital.

Delhi’s air quality battle is far from over. With the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-2) now in effect, authorities face mounting pressure to curb pollution spikes. As residents brace for health impacts and policymakers grapple with enforcement, the post-Diwali smog serves as a stark reminder: even "greener" celebrations come at a steep environmental cost.

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